Updated Social Distancing Measures – 18 February, 2021

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to further tighten social distancing measures.

The updated directions are effective from 00:01, 18 February, 2021

Restaurants

Allowed to open to 10pm and a maximum of 4 persons will be allowed per table. Staff to ensure that customers… 

    • Wear masks 
    • Check their temperature
    • Do not allow more people than permitted 
    • Use hand sanitiser 
    • Make sure people are socially distanced. 
    • ALL patrons may only enter if they have scanned using the Leave Home Safe app or leave with the outlet their last name, mobile phone number and the time that person entered and exited the premises. All records must be kept for 31 days. 
    • Restaurants must also ensure that all working staff members are tested every 14 days. All test records must be kept for 31 days. 

For those restaurants that have not complied with all of the new conditions, these outlets will only be allowed to open till 6pm and a maximum of two people will be allowed on each table. 

Restaurants that fail to comply with these new rules could be fined up to HKD 50,000 or imprisoned for up 6 months. 

Premises That May ReOpen:
    • All sports ground both indoor and Outdoor 
    • Beauty parlours
    • Gyms
    • Massage parlours
    • Cinemas 
    • Amusement parks 
    • Video Game Centers 
    • Ice Skating Rinks
    • Bowling Alleys 
Premises That Remain Closed:
    • Party Rooms
    • Bathhouses 
    • Discos/Night Clubs 
    • Karaokes 
    • Mahjong Parlors
    • Swimming Pools
    • Beaches 
Public Gatherings:
    • No more than 2 persons can gather together at any one time.

Mandatory Designated Hotel Quarantine

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and quarantine specifications for arrivals to Hong Kong, who as 0f 22 December 2020 will have to quarantine in a designated hotel. Currently, there are 36 hotels on the approved list.

The list of designated hotels can be found here www.coronavirus.gov.hk

The updated directions are effective from 00:01, 22 December until further notice.

Government Raises Penalties for Offences under Cap.599

The Government has announced it will gazette amendments to the subsidiary legislation under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), increasing the penalties for breaching the relevant Regulations. The amendments/ new fines will take effect from 11 December, 2020. 

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, “Anti-epidemic work requires the cooperation and self-discipline of all citizens by strictly complying with various anti-epidemic measures, including avoiding crowds, keeping social distance and maintaining personal hygiene… Faced with the epidemic surge, apart from tightening various infection control measures, it is imperative to increase the relevant penalties in order to create the necessary deterrence effect and ensure strict compliance with relevant requirements.”

The penalties amended under relevant Regulations are as follows:

Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) 

Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering commits an offence. The fixed penalty for discharging liability for the offence is raised from $2,000 to $5,000;

Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) 

Anyone who fails to wear a mask in accordance with the requirement when boarding or on board a public transport carrier, entering or present in an MTR paid area, or entering or present in a specified public place (currently covering all public places, save for outdoor public places in country parks and special areas as defined in section 2 of the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208)) commits an offence. The fixed penalty for discharging liability for the offence is raised from $2,000 to $5,000. The maximum penalty upon conviction is raised from a fine at level 2 ($5,000) to level 3 ($10,000). 

Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J)

Anyone who fails to comply with a requirement of a compulsory testing direction or a compulsory testing notice commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is raised from a fine at level 1 ($2,000) to level 3 ($10,000). The fixed penalty for discharging liability for the offence is raised from $2,000 to $5,000. 

The spokesman emphasised that the Government will step up inspections and law enforcement, taking stringent enforcement actions against offenders. If compliance is not satisfactory, the Government does not rule out the possibility of further raising the penalties.

The spokesman added “At this critical juncture of anti-epidemic work, we need the collective efforts of the community to keep social distance and maintain personal hygiene, in order to protect ourselves, our families and the public at large, especially the high-risk and disadvantaged groups. Accordingly, the Government strongly urges all members of the public to stay at home as far as possible and stop all unnecessary social activities. We are confident that with solidarity and concerted efforts of all, we should be able to fight this wave of epidemic together with a view to resuming normal economic and social activities.”

Updated Social Distancing Measures – 2 December, 2020

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to further tighten social distancing measures.

The updated directions are effective from 00:01, 2 December for 14 days

Civil Servants:

Civil servants are to work from home. Other than those who are providing essential or emergency services everyone have to remain at home.

CE is urging all private businesses to follow in the footsteps in the government and allow staff to work from home.

Premises that need to close:

Video Game Centers
Cinema
Playgrounds
Karaokes
Swimming Pools
Mahjong Parlors

Premises allowed to remain open:
  • Gyms and exercise centers (No more than 2 people can participate in any activity)

  • Massage and beauty parlors (They must keep up with strict hygiene rules set out by the government)

Restaurants:
  • Restaurants must all close by 10pm.

  • No more than 2 persons per table (From 4 persons)

  • Restaurant capacity will be limited to 50%

Public Gatherings:
  • No more than 2 persons can gather together at any one time.

Penalties and Fines:

Government looking at increasing penalties and fines for offenses related to Cap 599.

Updated Social Distancing Measures – 24 November

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to further tighten social distancing measures.

The updated directions are effective Thursday 26 Nov at 00:00 until 2 Dec at 23:59hrs

  1. Bars must close
  2. Nightclubs must close
  3. Bathhouses must close
  4. All Live music and dancing is prohibited even at weddings etc.
  5. There must be no more than 40 persons at any type of catering venue. Maximum will be 10 tables with 4 people to a table for all banquet venues. This is applicable to all clubs and hotels too.
  6. Restaurant capacity may not cross 50% of capacity.
  7. All persons must wear masks when not eating and getting up from their seats at restaurants.
  8. Hotels must make sure that if they have quarantine guests these guests must be separated from guests who are not under quarantine.
  9. Hotels have a responsibility that guests in quarantine cannot leave their rooms.
Feeling Unwell

If you feel unwell go to a doctor or the hospital – call ahead first, so as not to risk the stff.

Do not go to the local testing centers. These are for people with no symptoms.

Contact Tracing

To improve contact tracing all restaurants must apply for a QR code for use with the LEAVE HOME SAFE APP from the government by 2 December. This QR code must be displayed at entrances of restaurants.

More information on the leave home safe app can be found at the website below:

https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk

The government will use 599F to make sure that restaurants and other designated venues apply for this QR Code and post up a label within two days.

Government Further Tightens Social Distancing Measures – 21 November

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to further tighten social distancing measures. The updated directions will take effect at 0.00am on November 22 and last for 5 days

The details of the updated tightening measures are as follows:

  1. Live performance and dancing must not be allowed in any catering premises (including bars or pubs) as well as clubs or nightclubs.
  2. Premises (commonly known as party rooms) that are maintained or intended to be maintained for hire for holding social gatherings must be closed.

Persons responsible for carrying on catering businesses and managers of scheduled premises that contravene the statutory requirements under Cap. 599F would have committed a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The full government press release can be read here.

Attached is a summary of the latest measures that relate to catering business and scheduled premises

[gview file=”https://www.bcmagazine.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/summary-of-restriction-21-nov-2020.pdf”]